Introduction And History Of Daf Musical Instrument In English

Introduction And History Of Daf Musical Instrument

Introduction –

• The Daf, also known as the Dire and Reek, is a Middle Eastern (frame drum) musical instrument, used in popular and classical music in South and Central Asia.
• It is also used in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, several regions of Georgia, Pakistan as well as parts of India and the Russian polar regions.
• It is also popular among Balkans, Bukharan Jews, Caucasians, Kurds and Macedonians.
• The daf is the national musical instrument of Pakistan and since 2006 has also been featured on the obverse and reverse of the Azerbaijani coin and 1 manat banknote, respectively.
• It traditionally consists of a round wooden frame, jingles and a thin, translucent head made of fish or goat skin.
• Sound is produced by striking the membrane with both hands—the left hand, which also holds the daf, striking the edges, and the right hand striking the center.
• The fingers of the right hand are clasped around their neighbors and released suddenly to produce a loud, loud, loud sound.

History –

• Pahlavi Daf’s name is Dap. Some images of Daphne have been found in paintings that date back to before the Common Era.
• The presence of the Iranian daf in the 6th–5th century BCE Behistun inscription suggests that it existed before the rise of Islam and Sufism.
• Iranian music has always been a spiritual instrument. This suggests that the Daf had emerged as an important element in Majdan Iran during the Sassanian period during the Qavasak dynasty.
• Daf is depicted on a Middle Assyrian Empire relief 1392 BC–934 BC.
• Nowruz and other festive occasions accompanied the daf in the Sassanid period. During this period, the daf was played to accompany Iranian classical music.
• Dafs were likely used at court to be played in traditional musical modes and melodies. This traditional or classical music was created by Barbod the Great and was named Khosravani after the legendary King Khosrow.
• The modes were passed from master to student and are known today as the Radif and Dastgah systems.
• structure and construction
• Jingles, which are thin metal plates or rings, are attached with hooks into three or four rectangular holes in a circular wooden frame. The drumhead is made of fish or goat skin.
• The width of the frame is 45–50 cm (18–20 in) and the depth is 5–7 cm (2–3 in). To bend the frame, wood (“buka”, “orev”) may be softened in water before being bent around a hot metal cylinder.
• The frame is closed by gluing the ends together. Finally, the skin is attached to the frame by fixing it with another wooden frame or using nails.
• Another variation is to arrange ring-style jingles all the way around the inside edge of the drum or several tiers halfway around the inside edge.

Material –

wood, parchment

Daf’s Question Answer –